MULTIPURPOSE INFUSION MONITORING AND CONTROLLING UNIT AND METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

Disclosed herein a real time multipurpose infusion monitoring and controlling unit comprising power source, monitor, micro controller and drop rate sensors, wherein said unit is performing employing horizontal screw mechanism adapted to monitor and control the drip by locking the airdrop in the saline tube to make the drip mechanism more accurately and efficiently.

Claims

1. A real time multipurpose infusion monitoring and controlling unit comprising: Power source; Monitor; Micro Controller; and Drop rate sensors, wherein said unit is performing employing horizontal screw mechanism adapted to monitor and control the drip by locking the airdrop in the saline tube to make the drip mechanism more accurately and efficiently.

2. The infusion unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the screw type mechanism employed for pushing and controlling the airdrop in a saline tube, wherein said mechanism is performed by an assembly comprising: a compact DC motor; a gear box; a shaft and, a plunger on the shaft, wherein once we supply the power to the motor, the movement of motor starts which adapted to provide more than 400 steps in 1 rpm and also provide torque of around 2 kg to enable locking the airdrop to make the drip mechanism more accurately and efficiently.

3. The infusion unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the screw type mechanism is having three positions as an air lock position, required drop rate position and zero position.

4. The infusion unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said infusion unit is monitoring and controlling the gravity-fed drip infusions.

5. The infusion unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said infusion unit safely monitors the intravenous delivery of all kinds of fluids including chemotherapy treatment.

6. The infusion unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said infusion unit is compact and portable and is used anywhere in ICU as well as in general ward.

7. The infusion unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensors are auto locking type universal drop rate sensor which operates with all kinds of giving sets without the use of special adaptors or other extra hardware.

8. The infusion unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said unit is used with multiple ad-on equipments including B P machine, temperature sensing machine, ECG, Pulse check tool and the like.

9. The infusion unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said unit has in-built embedded high end microcontroller capable of communicating unit to unit by RF data stream.

10. The infusion unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said unit is having universal mounting means that equipment can be standardized across the hospital or institution with the unit easily switched from one treatment to another.

11. The infusion unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said unit is communicated through web data logging, SMS, Mesh network, web gate way, web server, web application and other smart applications.

12. The infusion unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said unit works on Battery, main, or solar or other renewal energy power.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0033] To illustrate the solutions according to the embodiments of the present disclosure more clearly, the accompanying drawings needed for describing the embodiments are introduced below briefly. Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the following descriptions merely show some of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and persons skilled in the art may obtain other drawings according to the accompanying drawings without creative efforts.

[0034] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of link among the multipurpose infusion drip apparatus, cloud server and computer system.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows the internal components of said apparatus along with the mounting clamp.

[0036] FIG. 3 shows the back portion of said apparatus along with mounting clamping on stand.

[0037] FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 shows the different perspective views of horizontal screw tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] The solutions of the present disclosure are to be clearly described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is obvious that the embodiments to be described are only a part rather than all the embodiments of the present disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by persons skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present disclosure without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.

[0039] According to one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, a real time multipurpose infusion monitoring and controlling unit comprising power source, monitor, micro controller and drop rate sensors, wherein said unit is performing employing horizontal screw mechanism adapted to monitor and control the drip by air-locking the saline tube to make the drip mechanism more accurately and efficiently and wherein the screw type mechanism employed for pushing and controlling the airdrop in a saline tube, wherein said mechanism is performed by an assembly comprising a compact DC motor, a gear box, a shaft and, a plunger on the shaft, wherein once we supply the power to the motor, the movement of motor starts which is adapted to provide multi-steps to get the desired drop rates and also provide torque of around 2 kg to create air lock of the saline tube to prevent air embolism in patient enabling air locking the saline tube to make the drip mechanism more accurate and efficient.

[0040] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a real time multipurpose infusion monitoring and controlling unit, wherein the screw type mechanism is having three positions as an air lock position, required drop rate position and zero position wherein said air lock position is fully lock position to adjust and control the droplets by obliterating the tube, required drop rate position is the position at which the drug is infused in patient at the required drop rate and zero position is the position when the tube is unlocked once the infusion is over.

[0041] Advantage of the present invention is to obviate the drawback associated with the existing arts and provide lightweight, portable and multifunctional infusion adapted to use anywhere including ICU and general wards of any health institutions.

[0042] According to the present invention, there is provided a microcontroller based infusion unit enabling the user to change the drop rate online with reference to infusion time, wherein customized settings on real time basis is provided and displaying all concerned information and indication along with audio visual alarm for set parameters.

[0043] According to the present invention, there is provided a microcontroller based infusion unit using the concept of fibre optics and electronics in combination to monitor the each individual drop of fluid leaving the given set of intravenous drip accurately and constantly recalculates and displays the flow rate in drops per minute digitally and can control drop rate online with reference to infusion time thus delivering accurate measurement of drugs and liquids safely as prescribed by staff and reduces workload on nurse staff.

[0044] In general the flow of gravity-fed drips can be affected by a number of factors, it is imperative that they are checked regularly. This takes nursing staff away from their other important tasks and interrupts the efficient running of the ward. With the improved infusion unit tremendously reduces workload on our nursing staff so they can give more time directly to patient care. It digitally monitors drops for any stoppage, any high and low deviation, completion of total or pre set volume etc. and makes nurses, patients and their family members 100% free from anxiety & continuously watching infusion for any problems.

[0045] The infusion monitoring and controlling unit according to present invention is a precision instrument which monitors gravity-fed drip infusions. It makes a significant contribution to the safety of patients who are receiving treatment by intravenous drip.

[0046] Various additional facility is provided in the current infusion unit such as selection of adult or micro infusion set (pediatric) before you start infusion, registers every drop of fluid and constantly recalculates and displays the flow rate in drops per minute, if the flow rate deviates from a specified range, ward staff are alerted quickly with both audible and visual alarms. During the night, a bag light alarm can be used to silently alert staff, infusion monitor allows staff to see at a glance how much fluid has been infused, accurate measurements of drugs and liquids can be delivered safely as prescribed with staff alerted once the specified quantity has been infused, customized settings for starting infusion with pre-defined total and preset volume so no need of setting it every time, use scroll on-off facility to monitor any parameter continuously, auto continuation facility to infuse balance volume once pre set volume is over by pressing single button, online change drop rate facility with reference to infusion time, online indication and display for battery charge percentage so you will never be without power during infusion, also alerts for low battery, Auto-Off and On facility is provided in the unit therefore there is no need to go to each and every unit in order to shut them down if it is being setup for an automatic-Off and On facility, said unit is capable of controlling the infusion volume of different drugs, said unit is capable of keeping record of both quantitative and qualitative list of drugs to be infused in patients. The said unit is also capable of monitoring temperature to get accurate digital temperature, wherein said accurate digital temperature helps in continuous monitoring as it is a very critical factor and might affect the infusion in patient further leading to negative consequences. The infusion unit is a complete web based unit which is also capable of setting multiple reminders for patient health management thus making the nursing job easier.

[0047] According to the present invention, said infusion unit operates through a two way communication method that further comprises of communicating through a mesh network for unit to unit communication, receiving information on web gateway with the help of Wi-Fi or GSM and transmitting the same to web server and conveying the integrated information about the condition of patient on web application of suitable user friendly electronic device.

[0048] According to the present invention, the infusion monitor provided herein monitors the flow rate of intravenous drips, but it does not come into contact with the fluid hence the risks of contamination or extravasations are minimized.

[0049] The infusion unit disclosed herein can run on inbuilt rechargeable battery for 24 hrs, or mains supply 230 VAC, 50 Hz, or 1 w 12 volt solar panel, or any 12 volt external battery

[0050] According to the present invention, all data is logged when hold facility used meaning by infusion monitor keeps accurate records of all infusion activity when infusion is put on hold for any reason like x-ray etc and restarts from same point again even if unit is switched off.

[0051] Nurse's time is freed up dramatically when using said infusion unit as disclosed in the present invention, as the device constantly monitors drip rates allowing staff to concentrate on other vital tasks. If there is a problem, staffs are alerted. Otherwise, they can get on with their jobs.

[0052] The infusion unit has universal mounting means that equipment can be standardized across the hospital or institution with the unit easily switched from one treatment to another. It can also be wall mounted if required. It is very easy to set and use equipment for medical/paramedical staff and nursing staff in particular.

[0053] An interesting model of using said infusion unit is provided according to the present invention, wherein user can use prepaid facility to use said unit which effectively reduces the cost of use.

[0054] FIG. 1 shows infusion unit operating through a two way communication method that further comprises of communicating through a mesh network(105) for unit(101a, 101b, 101c, 101d) to unit(101a, 101b, 101c, 101d) communication, receiving information on web gateway(l02) with the help of Wi-Fi or GSM and transmitting the same to web server(103) and conveying the integrated information about the condition of patient on web application of suitable user friendly electronic device(104).

[0055] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 which discloses the system comprises of a mounting clamp 201 fitted on a stand and a multifunctional intravenous drip infusion monitoring and controlling apparatus 101, wherein back portion of said apparatus is mounted firmly on the clamp hooks and front portion is towards the user, wherein height of said mounting clamp is adjustable according to the requirement, wherein the height is adjusted with the help of rotatable knob 202 by the process of tightening and loosening, wherein apparatus 101(a, b, c & d) is further comprises of a power source configured to operate horizontal screw tool 300, wherein said tool is further connected to microcontroller and drop rate sensors, wherein said microcontroller is capable of sending all running information of the tool to the web cloud server 103 through which one can access the intravenous fluid dripping conditions, monitor and control the same from a remote location in real time using a computer system or an electronic device 104 on a web application, wherein said electronic device is preferably a mobile phone, wherein said drop rate sensors are connected to the tool 300 capable of sensing the rate at which fluid is injected and if any abnormalities occurs, wherein motherboard of said microcontroller counts drops falling in drop chamber and slowly opens up the locked saline tube sufficient enough so that required drop rate is achieved, wherein all the information related to power source, conditions and functioning of horizontal screw tool 300 is updated on the interface of digital screen of the apparatus 101 in real time for user's convenience using computer system or an electronic device 104.

[0056] Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 that discloses a perspective views of the horizontal screw tool 300 which is capable of controlling the intravenous fluid drip accurately and efficiently by a particular mechanism, wherein said mechanism is performed by an assembly fitted in the central horizontal section of the tool further comprises of a compact DC motor 301 connected to power source, a gear box 302 in extension of said motor 301, a shaft 303 extended through said gear box 302 and, a bewild plunger 304 fitted at the end of shaft 303 by tightening it in the complementary threading of the shaft in respect of internal threading of said plunger 304, wherein said shaft 303 is threaded up to a distance equivalent to the depth of the plunger 304 provided for shaft to get fixed, wherein once the power is supplied from power source to the motor, the movement of motor 301 starts and is capable of providing more than 400 steps in 1 rpm and also provide torque of around 2 kg to enable locking the airdrop to make the drip mechanism more accurately and efficiently, wherein said assembly is placed inside the tool and said tool is mounted on a supporting base 305, wherein said base 305 is configured to be mounted at an optimum position inside the system.

[0057] The embodiments in the specification are described in a progressive manner and focus of description in each embodiment is the difference from other embodiments. For same or similar parts of each embodiment, reference may be made to each other. Because the method disclosed in the embodiment is corresponding to the unit/device/apparatus disclosed in the embodiment, the description of the method is simple. For related parts, reference may be made to the description of the apparatus.

[0058] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the foregoing description was in respect of preferred embodiments and that various alterations and modifications are possible within the broad scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention with the necessary modifications.

[0059] Based on the description of disclosed embodiments, persons skilled in the art can implement or apply the present disclosure. Various modifications of the embodiments are apparent to persons skilled in the art, and general principles defined in the specification can be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments in the specification but intends to cover the most extensive scope consistent with the principle and the novel features disclosed in the specification.